Gays not welcome says a Whangarei lodge, 'but we are sorry.' Really?

Some battles are just not worth fighting. Take for example the Whangarie lodge that has made it clear that they do not want gay couples staying there. God alone knows why they think it may be bad for business, but nothing the gay community or those who seek a fair deal for everyone may say will make one iota of difference so they may as well just suck it up and ignore such businesses.

Why the hell would anyone gay want to stay at their establishment if they are clearly not welcome other than to prove a point that may be worth making but not fighting? There are plenty of other options available. Personally, I would find staying there totally unenjoyably anyway. Imagine them being forced by law to accept all-comers and then put up with their negativity and probable poor service.

Some battles are important and the bigger pictures are those that need fighting. Leave these ‘throwbacks’ to their own devices. They have more than likely shot themselves in the foot anyway. What goes around comes around. So, Whangarie lodge or whatever you call yourselves---stay with your prejudice and dark fears and enjoy your narrow-minded isolation. Just don’t drag (excuse the pun) the rest of us down to your level. We shall get on with enjoying life--- but not with you as part of it----simple.

Yes, the larger battle against narrow thinking and prejudice in any form continues. I don’t seek to change the minds of those that are beyond ‘change;’ there is so much else to fight out there that really matters!

www.authorneilcoleman.com

John Key---you are just a political bully! Conscience vote only on his terms!

If any National MP has a conscience then now is the time to show it and vote how they truly believe on the casino conference centre. I find it hard to believe that all of them agree with John Key's stance. The fact that he has virtually 'ordered' his MPs to back the proposal means that none of them will go against his will. He will have his way and the MPs in his caucus know that if they want a future in 'his' party then they will have to tow the line.
Don't expect a mass breaking in the ranks. If even one of the National MPs actually dares to vote against the casino plans then they will be doomed to battle for their reselection at the next election.
Will there be a Marilyn Waring?  I doubt it but will be most pleased if someone comes out of the woodwork.
If anyone needed proof that John Key is a megalomaniac in drag, then here it is. He is determined to get his policy through at all costs. The cost to him should be that NZ finally sees him for what he is--- a face that hides the truth--- He is intent on turning NZ into 'his way or the highway!
Come on Nats! There must be some of you who can live up to the much vaunted claim that your party represents 'middle New Zealand and not some fascist state! Conscience vote my ass!
www.authorneilcoleman.com

There is going to be a conscience vote re the 'dirty deal' for the Auckland Casino.

About time, I say. The Speaker in Parliament has arrived at the conclusion that the vote re legislation around the deal proposed by the Prime Minister for the funding of the Auckland Casino be put to a ‘conscience vote.’ There has been a great deal of debate about this issue.

While some see the huge conference centre as being central to the enhancement of opportunities for Auckland and New Zealand in general, along with the creation of jobs, both in the construction phase and the running of the centre after the opening, others see a wider cost to the community.

Sure, we may get a brand spanking new centre but at what cost? Do we really need more pokie machines and gaming tables? Do we really want to increase the social pressures on the people of New Zealand, because in the final analysis, that is who will be paying for the extra social services needed as a result of increased gambling? As far as I can see, the only ‘gainers’ are not the ‘gamers,’ but the people who make the profits out of the presence of these gambling palaces. We all know that things are geared so that there are always more losers than winners.

Why should we, the public pay for the damage that problem gamblers inflict on themselves and others. It is all too easy to say that it is a ‘choice,’ made by the gambler and that if they get hooked then that is a natural consequence. Talking a broader view would indicate that the collateral damage is paid by us all. Broken families cost us all money. Social dysfunction is something we all reap the costs for.

I say to the politicians---take a hard look at this proposal and find another way to finance this conference centre. Yes, we will all pay for that too, but at least we will have control from the start as to its use, and any benefits will accrue to the city and New Zealand. It may mean waiting a bit longer. In this case, delaying is good; unlike the public transport issues that need addressing here and now!

Dig deep into your emotions and find out the real costs of bringing in yet more machines to our city! Hopefully without the shackles of ‘party machines’ to ramp up support for this proposal, maybe just once we will get a decision that does  not hurt the people who can least afford to ‘have a free choice,’

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Parliament had a chance last night to take a stand for the protection of animals from harmful testing--all so 'legal highs' can be sold! Shame on you!

Parliament missed a chance last night to enhance the protection of animals when it comes to using them for testing substances that are intended for the recreational use of people. Most New Zealanders are concerned about the so-called ‘legal highs’ that are being sold at our corner shops. Yes, Parliament is about to make that much more difficult and the legalisation that is finally going to be enacted will make it that much more difficult for those who ‘prey’ on our young people and make huge profits from plying their evil trade.

What is so sad is that last night Parliament missed the chance to protect animals from the testing that is necessary to make sure that these drugs are ‘safe.’ ‘That will involve a certain amount of testing’ say the proponents of the main bill. But---- testing either here in New Zealand, or worse, overseas in countries that have an appalling record re the rights of their people, never lone for animals should not be condoned at all.

Mojo and John Banks were on the same side in their desire to prohibit such moves but they did not have the support of the ‘spineless’ NZ First Party (So the elderly supports of that party who often have pets, agree with their darling, Winston?!) and mainly National members of parliament.

It is disgraceful that we as a nation will allow testing on animals for something most of us agree is harmful to humans and for a product that is there for recreational use. I dislike that description; it just makes it all seem so unnecessary. Are we not mostly in  agreement that we want these substances banned completely, so that our hospital wards can get on with the other work they need to do and not be using their precious resources to combat a substance that is increasingly causing concern re its use?

I am assume that many of you reading this will be angry. Let your local MP know about your concern and even consider voting against them at the next election. That this was a party vote also makes me mad. Surely it is a conscious issue. Shame on you ‘sheep’ who followed your leaders on this issue (namely the National Party and the defunct Peter Dunne Party) and voted against Mojo’s amendment. You will not be forgotten.

To all people who feel even a smidgeon of discomfort over this issue---get out there and ‘tell your MPs’ in no uncertain terms,’ what you think.

To those who think it’s OK to test on animals, for a recreational drug, then I wonder what else you would allow through as law. We are not talking about some medical breakthrough that will save lives or lead to better lives---we are talking about a substance or collection of substances that ‘harm people in every way!’ Mojos amendment would have gone some way to establishing a base from which we could have operated for other substances, and the list would indeed be long. At least her move was a damned good start. PARLIAMENT MISSED A VERY VALUABLE CHANCE!

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Fickle Australian voters do a complete turn around or is it that they can see through Tony?

A couple of weeks ago, very few people would have picked that the Coalition led by Tony Abbot would do anything other than completely annihilate the Labor Party at the upcoming elections. Julia Gillard (for all the wrong reasons) was leading a party over the cliff; to a place from which most saw them as taking years to resurrect. The infighting in the Labor Party just added to that prospect.

Then, along comes Ned Kelly---oops I mean Kevin Rudd and all bets are off if anything can be taken from the polls. One must ask---‘Did Australians really hate the ‘hard lady who sometimes cried,’ that much? It can’t have been her policies alone, because apart from a bit of tweaking here and there, they are basically the same as Kevin’s. It must therefore be about perception with undertones of a deeply sexist Australian society. It seems that ‘strong women’ are not favoured in Aussie politics. That Australian women have fought to build a strong Australia just as hard as men (some would say more) seems to have been relegated to a place that does not take into account their huge contributions.

I have alluded to Australia being a ‘hard place,’ in every sense of the word, in previous blogs and this latest turn around adds to my ‘perception.’ Maybe I have totally missed the point (I can hear the raucous cries of—you got that right mate!’) OK, you have brought back Kevin, but the problems you face are the same. Is it that a man is now mouthing the solutions that you can get on with things and put things ‘right?’

I remain perplexed!

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Try this wonderful and naughty recipe. It's from my cousin Barbara.

Hi Neil and Rio herewith recipe for Chocolate Fudge 500gms chocolate bits 60gms butter 2 tbsp rum 400 gms sweetened condensed milk (not Lite) 1/2 cup roughly chopped macadamia nuts Place foil in a lasagne type dish cover bottom and sides. Combine chocolate bits, condensed milk and butter in large saucepan and stir constantly over low heat, without boiling, until smooth. Stir in rum and macadamias. Spread evenly into prepared dish, cover and refrigerate until set before cutting. Enjoy!!!

 I am going to try it with various other liquers and nuts and maybe dried berries. I shall of course only have small pieces.

www.authorneilcoleman.com

NIMBYism raises its head again, this time in the 'richer' suburbs.

Oh no! Jets are going to be flying over some inner city suburbs in an experiment to lessen the noise and pollution for those areas traditionally encumbered by the activities of the airport. How terrible and ‘unfair.’ ‘It may affect values,’ claim local residents. OMG---we can’t have that! The flight paths should stay as they are; right through South Auckland, where the people don’t matter!

Get real Royal Oak and other atlas. Why not share the burden of having an airport that brings huge numbers of tourists and serves NZers so well? For year the residents of Otara and Papatoetoe, just to mention a few, have put up with the noise and pollution from the jets as they zoom in over their houses.

For a start, todays planes are quieter and less polluting, so man or woman up, and better still---shut up. Technology is on your side and as the years pass, the noise and pollution will lesson. If you can’t hack it---do what many South Auckland people have done---move! If you want peace and quiet, try the South Island. They need people. Oops, they may not want NIMBY Aucklanders!

I have noticed the planes as they come nearer to where I live. I just get used to it and I very much doubt that my little house in the glen will devalue. It even gives my elderly neighbours something to watch. They are not complaining!

www.authorneilcoleman.com